The conflict embroiling Syria hit another benchmark: the war’s number of foreign fighters now tops Afghanistan in the 198s. Syria has become the training ground of choice for today’s violent jihadis.

Though Jordan is one of the few countries in the Middle East region blessed with relative stability,Jordanians are actively contributing to the growth of fighters in neighboring Syria and Iraq. The implications of the foreign fighter phenomenon are manifold and dangerous. Jordan’s jihadis will likely be a generational plague to peace and stability,whether they stay in Syria or return home. The goal is to convince them not to go in the first place.

Mercy Corps conducted research to better understand what drives Jordanians to fight in order to influence evolving policy and programming seeking to mitigate violence,promote stability and advance safety for all civilians caught in the cross-fires of the region’s tragic spiral of violence.